So, one of the state’s highest-performing school districts in one of the state’s most affluent and conservative areas, Douglas County, is exploring a school voucher program.

We have heard the argument in support of voucher programs, mainly that vouchers will improve public school performance by encouraging competition. But in the case of Douglas County, the wolf has finally shed its sheep’s clothing. Since the only six private schools in Douglas County are faith-based and the district’s public schools are among the best in the state, the only reason for Douglas County School District to explore a voucher program is seemingly to support religiously conservative and financially secure parents who want the state to subsidize their child’s religious education. It’s simply wrong.

Ken O’Neal, Parker

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

My property taxes help fund public schools and, although I do not have children, I feel that having educated youth is a benefit to all of society. I strongly oppose using public money to fund religious-operated schools. Doing so would be similar to privatizing Social Security or outsourcing U.S. government jobs to India.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech … .” One could argue that the religion has already been established, but could a child from a non-religious family or a non-Christian family be eligible for the vouchers? If not, is that not discriminatory?

The schools have already taken over the parental roles of providing a proper diet, planning after-school activities, and virtual baby-sitting. Are we now to use public money to teach children religion?

The Douglas County idea sets a dangerous precedent and I strongly oppose it.

K. Flynn, Arvada

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Although many are excited about the possibility of vouchers in Douglas County schools, the program’s success requires avoiding several land mines.

First, it should not open the floodgates to fly-by-night operators looking to get rich quick in the school “business.” All that is needed to kill vouchers in the cradle is a dramatic scandal where the money is gone and the kids untaught. To mitigate this risk, we could limit voucher eligibility only to those institutions that have already proven themselves without vouchers for several years.

Second, recognize that adding this new funding source will result in upward pressure on tuition. A $5,000 infusion would cause thousands more people to suddenly be able to afford private schools, so guess what will happen to the tuition. While supply will eventually expand, the net effect will be upward price pressure. This can be addressed by simply requiring that each student’s tuition come either entirely from vouchers or entirely from private funds — no mixing of funding sources.

Finally, recognize that while vouchers will inject a market dynamic, that may not be the panacea that purists imagine. The reason is that paying with vouchers is like playing with “house money” — the incentive to be prudent and wise is there, but blunted. So parental oversight and scrutiny will also be there, but likewise blunted.

Only by avoiding these pitfalls and keeping expectations in line will vouchers have the best chance of succeeding.

Bill Blomberg, Parker

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Separation of church and state is an important principle of our democratic republic. It’s embodied in our constitution and it is the reason our schools have been relatively free of the parochial wars that exist in the schools of other countries.

When special interests and religious groups are allowed to take over education, their influence always becomes pervasive and coercive. Using public money in this way will remove choice, not promote it. Choice is not being forced to pay for someone else’s prerogatives.

If Douglas County is successful in its effort to use Colorado taxpayers’ money to fund private schools, the discordance and divisiveness of the political arena will infect school systems all across the state — to the detriment of families and teachers. The subterfuge promoted and paid for by the super-rich constituency in Douglas County shows why Colorado needs a constitutional amendment to deal with this issue.

Walter Heidenfelder, Denver

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

One wonders how the plan to possibly use public money for religious schools would play out if a madrassa opened in Douglas County. I can hear the screams and shrieks already in my backyard.

I attended religious, private schools my entire life, including elementary, high school, college and graduate school. Neither I nor my parents ever expected any public money for that choice.

Joél Lachance, Highlands Ranch

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The nerve of these people, thinking that citizens should be able to get “public money” so their kids could go to a school that represents their values! Oh, wait — maybe “public money” really comes from these people in the first place. You think?

Steve Cummings, Livermore

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The whole school voucher controversy fails to take into account the problems of transportation to and from non-neighborhood schools. If parents have to drive their kids to newly chosen schools that are sometimes far away, how are they supposed to get them there if they have no car, or their only car is used for work?

As a parent of a child who went to a charter school, the pick-up, drop-off and extracurricular-activity transportation was a real issue of juggling our cars, and coordinating with our work schedules. Again, low-income families will still be at a disadvantage.

The concept of neighborhood schools is just that — that a kid can take a neighborhood school bus, or walk or ride their bike to school. This demands that we support all schools.

The Douglas County move to have public funds support religious or other types of non-traditional schools does not help low-income families, as they claim, but will only be possible for those with adequate transportation options. The real goal, of course, is to drain public money to support these people’s lifestyle and to provide a tax-supported religious curriculum for their kids.

L. Highland, Morrison

This letter was published in the Nov. 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The folks who want to undermine public education are at it again, this time aiming to get their foot in the door of Douglas County Schools. Not only have they stacked the board and hired an almost inexperienced superintendent, but now they have garnered the enthusiastic support of The Denver Post. Come on, guys, how about a little restraint? Do we really need the front-page headline story, the lead editorial, and the Vincent Carroll op-ed all in the same issue, and all leaning heavily to starboard?
Dick Rautio, Aurora

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

I am not entirely sold on the school voucher idea being proposed by Douglas County. While it seems a good idea to allow people a choice to send their children to a private school, it would be a better idea if all Douglas County residents were included in this. Specifically, childless residents. If the proponents’ goal is provide choice and fairness to taxpayers in Douglas County, then childless taxpayers must be included. The childless taxpayer should be offered a similar voucher or tax rebate in the same amount. This voucher could then be used as they see fit.

Unless childless taxpayers are included, the voucher proposal is not fair to all Douglas County taxpayers.

Jeff Jasper, Denver

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The proposed voucher system for Douglas County schools, which would allow parents to obtain public money for use in private schools, including religious schools, is a serious violation of the separation of church and state, and will also erode the population of Douglas County schools; other counties may be quick to emulate what Douglas County does. This is a serious problem for Colorado’s public school systems.

Parents have always had a choice to send their children to private schools, paying the tuition or applying for private scholarships. They are not, however, entitled to receive public money.

If you live in Douglas County, please attend the school board meeting on Tuesday, at which time the board will be listening to input from the public. Please contact friends and family to prevent Douglas County from being the first in Colorado to chip away further at our public school systems.

Katherine Steinberg, Denver

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

The Douglas County School District’s recent consideration of a voucher program simply defies logic. Last year, the district was in such dire financial straits that parents were asked to pay for school busing. Next the district hired a superintendent that we couldn’t afford. Now the district is considering a program that would effectively subsidize private schools, when the public schools are underfunded. Any school board member supporting such illogic deserves to be tossed out of office at the next election.

Robert Nemchek, Parker

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

A recent Denver Post editorial asks the question every state should be asking: “Why aren’t we talking about vouchers?”

Last session, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill that ties teacher performance to test scores and uses a bureaucratic system (with no foreseeable punishments) to create faux accountability in public education. They should be commended for their pure intentions, but rebuked for their ignorance of the research and bureaucratic method for solving the problem.

Teacher merit-pay systems fail to address the myriad variables by which an effective instructor should be judged and emphasize test-taking rather than quality long-term education. A parent-trigger system similar to the ones being drafted in Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia allows parents to invoke a school-wide voucher plan with majority support.

Such a plan would create a system of real accountability, direct to the consumers of education, and addresses all of the variables by which education should be judged in one fell swoop. Lawmakers in Colorado should take a hard look at the parent trigger if they want to see real reform.
Marc Oestreich, Chicago

The writer is an education legislative specialist for The Heartland Institute.

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Mary Winter rails against medical researchers and mainstream media for health-related reports whose findings are difficult for laypeople to decipher and trust. Research is biased and flawed, and news stories about that research often seem contradictory, she writes, with sweeping generalizations. Winter caps her column with this kicker: “So skip the medical reports. Read your horoscope instead.”

Really?! That’s the kind of critical thinking that will put a gal out of a writing job. How ’bout a more sensible conclusion: Understand that, yes, many medical-research findings are incremental; some are likely flawed. Most important is the totality of knowledge gained over time. Science is all about asking questions. So ask questions about conflicting information, and avoid extremes when it comes to your own health.

Coleman Cornelius, Fort Collins

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

John Andrews has a way with words. He began his flowery prose in last Sunday’s column by lamenting “the late Gene Amole, columnist for a paper that is no more, classical DJ for a station that is no more.” And he said you missed something if you were not around when Amole was broadcasting for KVOD. Sneaky John would have you believe KVOD no longer exists.

Fortunately, for those of us who enjoy classical music, when the station went on the chopping block and no commerical radio station would purchase it, Colorado Public Radio stepped up to the plate, and KVOD continues to provide superb programming of classical music.

Andrews and other right-wing conservatives have a continuning hatred of public broadcasting stations.

Joe Power, Denver

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

While some small high schools may not have worked out, others have.
New Vista High School, featured on the front page of last Sunday’s Post, is a focus school in its 18th year. It provides opportunities both in and out of the classroom that engage students in non-traditional ways without compromising academics or engagement.

Common expectations and sense of community are important, as are the time and patience to develop them.

Challenging assumptions is also necessary. I was skeptical that this smaller, less traditional environment would work for my student. But I have been humbled by his improved academic performance and engagement, and the positive relationships he has developed with his teachers and the school.

Thanks, Boulder Valley School District, for your foresight and patience in providing options that engage the wide spectrum of learners within our community, balancing student needs and resources without undermining neighboring, successful schools.

Patti Smith, Boulder

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

We have been season ticket holders with the Broncos since 1965. I do not appreciate paying for Josh McDaniels’ learning curve. In 10 years he may be great, but today he is not. If Pat Bowlen cannot afford a decent coach, maybe he should sell the team to someone who can.

Laura Ring, Littleton

According to a report, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar skewed facts to shut down Gulf drilling. Reminiscent of charges regarding WMDs? Resign, Ken. Your brother needs you back on the family ranch.

Jack E. Blankenship, Battlement Mesa

Afghanistan, an almost feudal country, is having difficulty reaching political consensus. The U.S., a mature democracy where nearly 150 years have passed since our domestic war, is having similar difficulty. Are we really more politically mature?

David Wolf, Lakewood

If the Republicans stick to their stated agenda of making sure Obama is not re-elected, what are the chances we will see any recovery in the job market or growth of the economy in the next two years?

Susan Rogers, Denver

These letters were published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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